According to my Office word count, there are exactly One THOUSAND words in this post. Probably cheating, but, eh...

Thousand

She refused to talk about it.

Charles stood up from behind his desk, a kind smile on his face as he beckoned her to cross the threshold into the office, "Please, love, we have to discuss it. I have an appointment with Murray on Tuesday. We can't put it off any longer."

"I don't want to talk about it. Just tell me where to sign." Elsie turned quickly to rush up the stairs, nearly knocking Mona down in her teary flight.

Charles met the bewildered maid at the bottom of the stairway, each flinching as Elsie slammed the bedroom door. He shook his head, "She'll be all right, Mona, but you might want to enjoy a walk outside before sunset. It may get worse before it gets better." Mona gave him a small smile before hurrying away toward the kitchen.

He slowly trudged up the stairs. He hated to press her, but time was short and given their ages, he felt it quite irresponsible not to have a proper will drawn. His intent wasn't to upset her. In fact, he was unsure exactly why she was upset. What he was asking wasn't unreasonable and yet her reaction had been so strong for someone he considered incredibly sensible.

Upon reaching the door he felt quite helpless as he listened to her whimpers escape through the keyhole. He took a deep breath as he turned the knob and looked into the room. She seemed so small drawn up into a tight ball on the far side of the bed, her body physically shaking.

"Darling, it is just a document."

She groaned, "I told you I don't want to talk about it. Please just leave me alone, Charles."

He sat on the bed next to her, gently rubbing her back. "There are decisions that I can't make on my own. I need to know what you want. I need to know what you want to do for Becky. Come on, love, please. I will do whatever you want, but you have to tell me what it is first."

"No." Her whimpers became earnest sobs as she rolled away from him.

He lay down next to her and exhaled deeply, folding his hands across his stomach as he stared at the ceiling, "This isn't like you. Please talk to me. I don't want you to be upset. Whatever it is, I will do everything in my power to make right."

A minute passed before he finally felt her move. Rolling over to face him, she placed her hand on top his, "You can't make it right because there is nothing to make right."

He reached over and wiped her cheek, "Then why are you so upset? I've never seen you like this."

Elsie rolled onto her back, unable to face him as she admitted, "I don't want to talk about it because if we don't talk about it I don't have to think about it."

He turned on his side, his head propped up by his hand, "You don't want to have to think about the will?"

She fought to swallow the lump forming in her throat, "I don't have to think about living without you."

"Oh, love." Charles pulled her to him, "Drawing up a will doesn't mean either of us is going to die anytime soon. It is something all married couples should do, no matter their age." He kissed her cheek and added, "I know it isn't a cheery topic, but once we make these decisions, we don't have to think about them again."

Elsie curled up against him, unable to stifle a new cascade of tears, "I'm sorry. I know it is foolish."

"It's not. It's not foolish." He kissed the top of her head and began to rub her back again as he changed his tact, "It is actually a chance for us to do some good if you think about it."

She pulled her head back from his chest and wiped her eyes as she looked up at him, " Do some good? What do you mean?"

"Well, the house is paid for so we will have to leave it to someone and our only living relative is Rebecca, right?" Elsie nodded as he continued, "I have been giving it quite a bit of thought. What would you think about leaving the house to the people who run Becky's home?" Elsie stared at him in astonishment. "There are certain conditions we can place on the bequest such as it be used for people with similar needs to Becky's and that they be people who need financial support. We should have a tidy sum saved up if business continues as it is for the next ten years or so. We can put that money in a fund that allows people with financial constraints to place their loved ones here. I know there must be many other families who will find themselves in the same sort of dilemma you were in all those years. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to help them?"

Elsie stared at him in disbelief, "How long have you been thinking about this?"

"Since we visited Becky a few months ago. I told you I was most impressed with the home and the staff…"

Elsie took his face in her hands and kissed him soundly before gazing deeply into his eyes, "Just when I think you can't possibly be more kind or wonderful, you come up with something like this."

As she buried her head against his neck, Charles smiled and whispered into her ear, "I'm glad you like the idea."

Elsie tightened her embrace and kissed his ear before shifting down into the crook of his arm. They lay in contented silence for several minutes before she whispered, "Just make me one promise, Charles."

"Of course."

"Promise me you'll never die."

He lifted her hand to his mouth, sighing as his lips brushed across her fingers. "I'll do my best, love. I promise."